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English Literature: Zotero

Guides to Formatting a Bibliography

There are different bibliographic styles that you can use but generally speaking, English courses require the use of MLA style. Make sure you use the style specified by your instructor or choose one and be consistent with it. 

To save time, you might wish to download a citation management software called Zotero. It is a web-based bibliographic management tool (citation manager) that allows you to create a database of citations or references to resources (books, journal articles, web sites, etc.). You can also store pdfs in your Zotero library. In addition, it facilitates the insertion of citations within a research paper as in-text references, footnotes, or endnotes, and the creation of a formatted bibliography using a citation style of choice. All major citation styles are supported (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). It is free, open source software, allows for the insertion of notes and annotations, and there are many plug-ins which help you manipulate the data in your Zotero library.

Here is a guide to using Zotero.

Writing Help

The Writing Centre offers individual instruction in all aspects of writing to students taking courses in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies. Normally a student is permitted one 50-minute session per week in which he or she works together with an instructor on course assignments. For more information, call 416-736-5134, visit their website, or drop by in person at S329 Ross Building.